Date of this Version
6-2001
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Estimation of short tandem repeat (STR) multilocus genotype frequencies for the identification of individuals and estimation of allele frequencies for parentage assignment both depend on (a) testing a lot of loci, (b) high levels of polymorphism at each locus tested, and (c) independence among alleles. Independence is critical, because the estimation of multilocus genotype and gamete frequencies is based on multiplying individual allele frequencies to produce a composite frequency estimate. Independence among alleles at a locus is known as Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, whereas allelic independence between loci is known as linkage equilibrium. The frequency at which individual identification may be declared is a matter of opinion, as there is no scientific way to specify certainty based on frequency estimates. Similarly absolute assignment of parentage is impossible in theory; in practice it is more difficult than individual identification, because only half as much information is available (gamete vs genotype frequency) and because mutation may confound parentage analysis.
Recommended Citation
Tracey, Martin, "Short Tandem Repeat-based Identification of Individuals and Parents" (2001). Department of Biological Sciences. 171.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/cas_bio/171
Rights Statement
In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
Comments
Originally published in the Croatian Medical Journal.